If you have been discriminated against in the workplace due to your race, you must be prepared to hold your employer accountable. This is because there are both state and federal laws instilled to protect you against such discrimination. Follow along to find out what you should do after a race discrimination incident and how a proficient New York discrimination lawyer of Bell Law Group, PLLC, can prep you for what lies ahead.
What protections are afforded under the New York Human Rights Law?
Notably, employees are protected from discrimination based on their race under both New York State and federal law. That is, the U.S. Civil Rights Act, the New York State Human Rights Law, and the New York City Human Rights Law make it illegal for an employer to discriminate against any employee or potential employee on the basis of the following factors:
- Their race.
- Traits historically associated with race (i.e., hair type, hair texture, and protective hairstyles such as braids, twists, and locks).
What should I do after an incident of racial discrimination in the workplace?
There is a certain procedure that you should follow in the unfortunate event that you are racially discriminated against in the workplace. This procedure reads as follows:
- Speak with your company’s human resources department. If your workplace does not have this department, then speak directly with management.
- If there was no action taken after you reported your incident, then consider filing a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the New York Office for Civil Rights. Indicate that you wish to cross-file the claim with the two agencies so that you do not have to file twice. With their “work-sharing agreement,” the two agencies will then work together to process your claim.
- If you wish to preserve your claim under federal law, file your claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission within 300 days of the date that you were racially discriminated against.
For any assistance throughout this process, do not hesitate in retaining the services of a talented New York employee rights lawyer today.
CONTACT THE BELL LAW GROUP, PLLC TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS
If your employer has possibly committed wage and hour violations, you need to hire an attorney who understands all of the applicable state and federal employment laws. At Bell Law Group, PLLC, our attorneys are experienced in private employment claims. We offer a free strategy session and have offices in New York, Florida, and Washington, D.C. To schedule your consultation, call 855-566-2355 or contact us.
